In an extraordinary feat of space engineering, a Chinese satellite performed a breakthrough maneuver to avert a potential asteroid disaster.
The asteroid, known as 1994 PC1, is a colossal celestial body comparable in size to San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Astronomers struggled to track the asteroid’s path precisely because of its great distance.
However, the entry of China’s Jilin-1 satellite into a near-Earth orbit turned the tide, showcasing China’s impressive space capabilities and raising concerns among Western nations.
Tracking 1994 PC1
Asteroid 1994 PC1 was 2 million kilometers from Earth, which is five times farther than the Moon. This great distance made it very difficult for astronomers to determine its exact path.
Despite its large size, the asteroid’s great distance made it difficult to determine whether it would hit Earth. China’s Jilin-1 satellite, which is usually used to observe the Earth, performed a remarkable maneuver to help track it.
The Jilin-1 satellite, normally pointed at Earth, made an unusual move to point its camera into space. He began taking photos of the 1994 PC1 every second, capturing vital data.
The mission included 51 firing tasks from January 17 to 21, 2022, each lasting 15 seconds. These images allowed scientists to reduce the error of positioning the asteroid in its orbit to only 33 kilometers, which significantly increased the accuracy of terrestrial telescopes by two orders of magnitude. As a result, astronomers were able to confirm that 1994 PC1 would pass safely by Earth, avoiding any risk of collision.
A declassified disclosure and its consequences
This mission, which took place in January 2022, remained undisclosed until recently declassified by the Chinese government. The revelation highlighted the sophisticated capabilities of China’s satellites, which are causing unease in Western countries, particularly the United States (US), according to South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Concerns are growing that China’s expanding space capabilities could be used for military purposes, potentially upsetting the strategic balance in space.
“Follow-up experiments will be conducted to observe fainter near-Earth asteroids using existing space equipment,” said the project team led by Professor Liu Jing of the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The research was published in Chinese Journal of Deep space exploration in April.
The Jilin-1 constellation, with more than 100 satellites, forms the backbone of China’s Earth observation network. These satellites are renowned for their fast, high-resolution imaging capabilities, having previously captured intricate details such as a US F-22 fighter jet in flight and a missile launch.
However, tracking an asteroid millions of kilometers away required innovative adjustments, including adjusting the exposure parameters of the optical sensors.
Global implications and strategic interests
While the European Space Agency and NASA have long explored using dedicated satellites to observe asteroids, their plans remain largely theoretical.
In contrast, a successful Chinese experiment shows that existing Earth observation systems can be redesigned to enhance early warning capabilities for high-risk asteroids. The experiment also underscores China’s sophisticated capabilities for space-to-ground cooperation, including large ground-based observation stations in Beijing and Xinjiang, as well as a dedicated astronomical observation satellite.
Going forward, the Chinese team plans to incorporate a large ground-based radar network to further improve its tracking and targeting capabilities.
Globally, the United States leads in space installations with more than 8,000 satellites in orbit, dominated by SpaceX’s Starlink satellites used primarily for communications. However, the rapid growth of China’s space observation system, including the Jilin-1 satellites, has raised alarm in the US military.
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, expressed concern about China’s expanding fleet of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies’ Spacepower Security Forum.
“Specifically, the PRC has more than 470 ISR satellites that feed a robust killer network of sensors and gunners,” Saltzman said. This new network of sensors and weapons poses a dangerous threat to our troops deployed in the field.
Kelly D. Hammett, director of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, echoed those concerns, warning that the U.S. may be falling behind in the space race. “We’re building new capabilities, we’re trying new things, but it’s not the force structure we need to compete and deter,” Hammett noted.
He pointed out that many of China’s satellites are aimed at space warfare, which poses a strategic challenge.
Despite these geopolitical tensions, the focus remains on technological and scientific achievements. China’s ability to convert its Earth observation satellites to track asteroids in deep space represents a significant milestone.